Dogs have been used by militaries around the world for thousands of years. They were sentries for the Greeks and Romans, attack dogs for the Hun, guard dogs during the Middle Ages, and more.
Today, breeds like the German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Labrador Retriever, and Dutch Shepherd are the most common military working dogs in the United States. The dogs may be of different breeds, but they all have similar characteristics that make them perfect for their jobs. They are all loyal, intelligent, strong, obedient, hard working, and brave. No matter the obstacle in front of them, these dogs must overcome it without hesitation – and they do.
As a country, we owe military working dogs a debt of gratitude. They support our troops through the most difficult situations and get the job done when a human soldier cannot. These dogs protect their handlers from enemy threats, guide them through deadly fields of land mines, and locate targets that would otherwise remain secret. And, perhaps, one of their most important contributions, America’s military working dogs make sure our brave men and women never feel too far from home. The US Postal Service honored these canines on four Forever stamps in 2019, fitting tributes to the indispensable creatures that will never let us down.
